Football: Fresh off a title game, Bearkats ready to get back to work

Sam Houston State returns a veteran group of players from the team that went 14-1 and made an appearance in the 2012 NCAA Division I football championship game in Frisco.

Head coach Willie Fritz will have a veteran squad to work with. (Brett Coomer/Chronicle)

The Bearkats, however, will have some new faces among the coaching ranks when they take the field for spring practice Wednesday afternoon at Elliott T. Bowers Stadium.

Former Western Illinois assistant coach Doug Ruse joins the SHSU staff as offensive coordinator. Bart Tatum, formerly head coach at Missouri Southern, will be the Bearkats’ new offensive line coach. Matt Barrett, who coached at Missouri Southern and Catawba College, will coach Sam Houston’s wide receivers.

“Doug, Bart and Matt are all three outstanding coaches and a major emphasis during spring ball will be having them become familiar with our personnel and system,” head coach Willie Fritz said in a release.

The Bearkats return 19 starters, including eight on offense, nine on defense and two specialists. The team will hold 14 practice sessions during the next five weeks with spring work climaxing April 18 with the annual Orange-White spring game.

“Everyone is excited to get back on the field,” Fritz said. “After two seasons of people talking about how young and inexperienced we were, it’s great to have such a veteran group returning.”

Included among 50 returning lettermen are 22 seniors and 15 juniors. Ten players on the Bearkats’ roster have more than 20 starts in their career.

“The players have worked hard during the conditioning phase of the annual schedule and are looking forward to getting back out on the practice field,” Fritz said.